INTRODUCTION Due to restrictions placed on Germany following World War1, military aircraft production was prohibited, especially any type of bomber. In 1934, Siegfried and Walter Gunter drew up a design for a medium-sized, twin-engined airliner for Heinkel Flugzeuwerke. Presented and disguised as an “airliner”, with the rise of a new “order” in Germany, the real purpose of the design was already known to the newly-formed “Luftwaffe”. The prototype first flew on 24th. February 1935 and was immediately praised for its high speed capability. Before the War, in a touch of irony, Reginald Mitchell, the designer of the Supermarine Spitfire and what was to become the HE-111’s nemesis, visited the Heinkel works and was impressed by the eliptical shapes used in the flying surfaces of the HE-111. This was his inspiration in designing that most beautiful of aeroplane wings and a major contribution to the Spitfire’s domination of the skies across Europe and beyond. Promoted as the fastest airliner in the World, with a top speed in excess of 250 MPH. , development of the design continued as a medium bomber as the dark clouds of war gathered and other manufacturers like Junkers and Dornier joined the drive to equip the Luftwaffe with the best aircraft. Originally powered by BMW engines, the early HE-111s were slower than their Junkers counterparts. A change to Daimler Benz DB 600 engines saw a marked increase in power and speed. The early models had a conventional “stepped” cockpit design, the characteristic bullet-nose shape was not to appear until much later. The new engines would often suffer balance issues, producing the well-known non-syncronised sound that always signalled the approach of the bomber over its target. During the Blitz of London, it was, perhaps one of the most feared sounds, the roar of the “phasing” engines heralding the arrival of that night’s attacks. The early models saw combat duty in the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion and much was learned from this experience. The need for an increase in defensive armament was a major lesson - the type could not rely purely on speed to evade enemy fighters. As part of this increase, a new nose section was designed almost entirely of perspex with narrow framework and fitted with a semispherical gun mount - “Ikara” at the very front of the aircraft. The nose section continued the main fuselage pro- file, dispensing with the need for the stepped cockpit of the “E” models. Thus, the instantly recognisable “Heinkel HE-111 shape” was born. This “P” variant is the one we have modeled in this simulation. One would have thought that the new design of the nose with all that Perspex would afford the pilot excellent visibility but in reality this was far from the truth. Pilots reported limited vision due to suspended equipment and instrument panels inside the nose and the framework itself. So, a system was installed to allow the pilot seat, together with all the flying controls, to be raised. The pilot would fly with his head protruding through the main overhead hatch and protected from the elements by a special retractible aeroscreen. The systyem was used mainly for takeoffs and landings and whenever forward vision was obscured through battle damage or poor weather conditions. A typical Heinkel HE-111 crew consisted of the Pilot, Bomb-Aimer/Navigator/NoseGunner, Radio Operator/Dorsal Gunner (the dorsal gun position was open, protected by a sliding Perspex hood)) Ven- tral Gunner (prone position in the belly of the aircraft) . Sometimes a separate Navigator was carried who also performed the duties of a “side-gunner” when extra machine guns were fitted to each side window. Up to 4,400 lbs of bombs could be stored in the main internal bomb bay and in later variants, external racks were fitted to carry up to 7,900 lbs but these racks prevented the use of the internal bomb bay. The bombs were stored vertically, and upon release would exit via a system of small, individual external bomb doors. As they fell, they would tumble into a horizontal position - another characteristic visual of the Heinkel in combat. By the beginning of WW2, The Heinkel was Germany’s most numerous bomber type and was to bear the major workload in the coming “Blitzkreig” bombing strategy across Europe. As the German invasion of Europe continued at lightning pace, the Heinkel was at the forefront, combining with its stablemate, the Junkers JU87 “Stuka” to wreak havoc right across Western Europe, all the way to the French coast. It was then, during the Battle of Britain, that the Heinkel’s supremecy came to an abrupt end when it met the Hurricanes and Spitifires of the Royal Air Force. No match for the Rolls Royce Merlin- powered fighters and their skilled pilots, the Heinkel was vulnerable to frontal attack and soon began to suffer major losses. Starved of adequate fighter cover due to the Messerschmit fighter support suffering a lack of fuel range, scores of Heinkels fell to the guns of the British fighters. By the end of the Battle, the Heinkel HE-111 was withdrawn from use in such numbers and never again would be used in the mass “armadas” so typical of Blitzkreig strategy. However, the design continued to be developed through many variations and was used with success in all theatres including the Eastern Front. Post-war, German-built HE-111s remained in service in Spain and the design continued to be built by the Spanish, under licence as the CASA 2. The irony here was that the CASA aircraft were powered by Rolls Royce Merlin engines - the very powerplants that cointributed the downfall of the HE-111 during the War. The final two German-built HE 111s continued in service with the Spanish Air Force until 1958. Despite being on opposite sides, it would be fair to say that the Heinkel HE-111 is as iconic a combat aircraft as a Spitfire or Hurricane, and should take its rightful place alongside these and many other famous aeroplanes in the history of military aviation. LEADING PARTICULARS Crew: Typically 4 Length 53ft. 9.5ins. (16.4m) Height 13ft. 1.5ins. (4.0m) Wingspan 74ft 2ins. (22.6m) Wing Area 942.92sq.ft. (87.6 sq.m) Empty Weight 19,136 lb. (8,680 kg) Max. Takeoff weight 30,864 lb. (14,000 kg) Loaded Weight 26,500 lb. (12,030 kg) Power Plant 2 x Daimler Benz DB601A liquid-cooled inverted V12 (developing 1,158.9 hp) PRE-START AND START CHECKLIST TANK SELECTION The aircraft has four tanks - a main and reserve in each wing. The mains contain 700 litres (154 gallons imp.) and the reserves 1000 litres (225 gallons imp.) each. On the right upper roof panel, you will find the two multi-reading gauges and their selector switches. Here you can check contents of the four tanks. The tanks are controlled by two levers on the right of the pilot seat. Selecting each lever down will open the valves to the inner “main” tanks. Up and you select the outer “reserve” tanks For starting and general flying duties the mains are used so always start with the levers down. PRE-START BATTERY ON “EIN” THROTTLES CLOSED FUEL TANKS DOWN (Inner tanks selected) FUEL VALVES OPEN (FORWARD) SUPERCHARGERS LOW GEAR (FORWARD) PROPELLERS FULL FINE PITCH -100% - SHORT NEEDLE AT 12’O’CLOCK MAGNETOS TO BOTH (M1&M2) START AND RUN (Same procedure for both engines, starting left engine first) YOUR HEINKEL DOES NOT HAVE A PARKING BRAKE!! ENSURE THAT BRAKES ARE FIRMLY HELD ON BEFORE STARTING! (If you must, you can use the keystrokes for park brake for safety) RADIATORS OPEN THROTTLE CRACK 4% STARTER PULL UP INSTRUMENTS CHECK WATER RADIATOR TEMP. @ 40c> CHECK OIL RADIATOR TEMP. @ 40c> IMPORTANT!! ONLY RUN ENGINES ON THE GROUND FOR THE SHORTEST POSSI- BLE TIME. THE DB600 SERIES ENGINE IS PRONE TO OVERHEAT AND YOU WILL SEE THE TEMP GAUGES RISE QUICKLY. ENSURE RADIATORS ARE FULLY OPEN AND LIMIT YOUR GROUND RUNNING TIME. STARTER PULL UP SWITCH OFF THE “SECURE AIRCRAFT” SWITCH TO STOW BOARDING LADDERS AND CHOCKS. TAXY For best visibility for taxying and takeoff, you need to raise the seat. and alter your viewpoint. Study the special section on raising the seat. Taxying can be carried out using engine control an differential braking. The engines are powerful and do not require large amounts of throttle. TAKEOFF FLAPS UP ( or 20% on full load) THROTTLES OPEN FULLY, GRADUALLY Push the stick forward to unstick the tail wheel at around 120 Kph ( 65 knots) and rotate at around 150 Kph (80 knots) by pulling gently back on the yoke. Continue to accelerate to 200 Kph (108 knots) and raise the flaps and gear. REMEMBER TO DISENGAGE THE HYDRAULIC LOCK! to enable the flaps and gear levers to operate. THROTTLES To give 1.15 ATA (Manifold pressure) PROPELLERS 23,00 RPM You should climb at around 240 Kph (130 knots) at 850 ft per min. Do not be tempted to raise the nose higher as the Heinkel can power-stall quite easily. Lower the seat and viewpoint and close all hatches. Level off at cruise altitude and throttle back for best economy. Use of the AUTOPILOT is recommended for longer flights, for no other reason than to relax, keeping the aircraft in a steady attitude. All conventional navigation processes can be employed using the radios and magnetic compass inputs. APPROACH and LAND PROPELLERS FULL FINE PITCH -100% - SHORT NEEDLE AT 12’O’CLOCK THROTTLES To give 200 Kph (108 knots) RADIATORS OPEN HYDRAULIC LOCK UNLOCK FLAPS FULLY DOWN LANDING GEAR DOWN - (Green lights) RAISE SEAT AND VIEWPOINT REDUCE THROTTLES and TOUCH DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 140 Kph (75.5 knots) .